Patterns of posttraumatic stress disorder and posttraumatic growth among breast cancer patients in China: A latent profile analysis

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the patterns of posttraumatic responses among breast cancer (BC) patients, to explore the variables associated with these patterns, and to compare anxiety and depression on various posttraumatic response patterns. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted with a sample of 612 BC patients who were currently undergoing treatment. The questionnaire package included Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale (PSS), Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), Network of Relationships Inventory, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Modeling was performed using a latent profile analysis (LPA) to explore patterns of posttraumatic responses among BC patients. RESULTS: Based on the fitting indicators of LPA, three-class patterns model of posttraumatic responses was optimal. Resisting group (34.6%): patients reported mild posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and mild posttraumatic growth (PTG). Growth group (47.4%): patients showed mild PTSS and high PTG. Struggling group (18.0%): patients showed high PTSS and high PTG. BC patients with lower income were more likely to belong to Resisting group and Struggling group. BC patients with high levels of social support were more likely to belong to Growth group. Patients in Struggling group had the highest levels of anxiety and depression. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that there was heterogeneity in posttraumatic response patterns of BC patients. The results provided theoretical base guiding the development of health care schemes and psychological interventions for patients, suggesting the necessity of differentiated health care for BC patients with different posttraumatic response patterns.